"This bill will help protect the American people. This bill will make
our borders more secure. It is an important step toward immigration
reform."

- President George W. Bush, 10/26/06

Today, President Bush Signed The Secure Fence Act - An Important Step
Forward In Our Nation's Efforts To Control Our Borders And Reform Our
Immigration System. Earlier this year, the President laid out a
strategy for comprehensive immigration reform. The Secure Fence Act is
one part of this reform, and the President will work with Congress to
finish the job and pass the remaining elements of this strategy.

The Secure Fence Act Builds On Progress Securing The Border

By Making Wise Use Of Physical Barriers And Deploying 21st Century
Technology, We Can Help Our Border Patrol Agents Do Their Job And Make
Our Border More Secure. The Secure Fence Act:

* Authorizes the construction of hundreds of miles of additional
fencing along our Southern border;

* Authorizes more vehicle barriers, checkpoints, and lighting to
help prevent people from entering our country illegally;

* Authorizes the Department of Homeland Security to increase the
use of advanced technology like cameras, satellites, and unmanned aerial
vehicles to reinforce our infrastructure at the border.

Comprehensive Immigration Reform Begins With Securing The Border. Since
President Bush took office, we have:

* More than doubled funding for border security - from $4.6
billion in 2001 to $10.4 billion this year;

* Increased the number of Border Patrol agents from about 9,000
to more than 12,000 - and by the end of 2008, we will have doubled the
number of Border Patrol agents since the President took office;

* Deployed thousands of National Guard members to assist the
Border Patrol;

* Upgraded technology at our borders and added infrastructure,
including new fencing and vehicle barriers;

* Apprehended and sent home more than 6 million people entering
America illegally; and

* We are adding thousands of new beds in our detention
facilities, so we can continue working to end "catch and release" at our
Southern border.

This Act Is One Part Of Our Effort To Reform Our Immigration System, And
We Have More Work To Do

Comprehensive Immigration Reform Requires That We Enforce Our
Immigration Laws Inside America. It is against the law to knowingly
hire illegal workers, so the Administration has stepped up worksite
enforcement. Many businesses want to obey the law, but cannot verify
the legal status of their employees because of the widespread problem of
document fraud, so the President has also called on Congress to create a
better system for verifying documents and work eligibility.

Comprehensive Immigration Reform Requires That We Reduce The Pressure On
Our Border By Creating A Lawful Path For Foreign Workers To Enter Our
Country On A Temporary Basis. A temporary worker program would meet the
needs of our economy, reduce the appeal of human smugglers, make it less
likely that people would risk their lives to cross the border, and ease
the financial burden on State and local governments by replacing illegal
workers with lawful taxpayers. Above all, a temporary worker program
would add to our security by making certain we know who is in our
country and why they are here.

Comprehensive Immigration Reform Requires That We Face The Reality That
Millions Of Illegal Immigrants Are Here Already. The President opposes
amnesty but believes there is a rational middle ground between granting
an automatic path to citizenship for every illegal immigrant and a
program of mass deportation. Illegal immigrants who have roots in our
country and want to stay should have to pay a meaningful penalty for
breaking the law, pay their taxes, learn English, work in a job for a
number of years, and wait in line behind those who played by the rules
and followed the law.

Comprehensive Immigration Reform Requires That We Honor The Great
American Tradition Of The Melting Pot. Americans are bound together by
our shared ideals, an appreciation of our history, respect for the flag
we fly, and an ability to speak and write the English language. When
immigrants assimilate and advance in our society, they realize their
dreams, renew our spirit, and add to the unity of America.